Guard for trolling-hooks.



11. 0. KRUSCHKE. GUARD FOR TROLLING HOOKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, I915- Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Hi COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (10-. WASHINGTON. n. c.

GUARD FOR TROLLING-HOO'KS.

7 Application filed May 28, 1915. Serial No. 31,026.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, RUDOLPH C. KRUsoHKE,citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St.Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Guards for Trolling-Hooks, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to guards for trolling hooks and has for itsprincipal object the production'of a simple and eflicient means forprotecting the hook against foreign objects, such for instance aseelgrass, lily pads, snags and like objects when trolling for fish inwaters wherein such obstructions are likely to be encountered.

Another object of this invention is the production of a guard fortrolling hooks which comprises a plurality of elongated resilient wiresso formed as to extend for a considerable distance beyond the end of thehooks, thereby forming a continuous shank for the spoon or minnow andthe hooks, whereby the foreign objects will be prevented from cloggingthe operating por-' tions of the device, the guard being formed so as toeasily yield when struck by fish so as to allow the fish to comeintoengagement' with the hooks.

Another object of this invention is the production of a frame memberwhich is adaptedto carry a cork, this frame member being so constructedas to allow the guard fingers to be positively held in engagementtherewith, while the cork will act as a reinforcing element andpositively retain the shank in engagement therewith.

With these and other-objects in view, this invention relatesto certainnovel combina- I i as to commun cate w th each .of the slots 2 tions,constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed. 7 p

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a detailed perspective view ofa guard as constructed in accordance with this invvention. Fig. 2 is avertical section through the upper portion of the device illustrating athe manner in which the shank is supported.

Fig. .3 is a section taken .on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking inthedirection of the arrows. Fig. 41 is a detailed perspective view ofthe principal portions of the device, the protector hood being removed.

Fig. 5 is a detailed .perspectiveview of the 1 upper portions of theguard illustrating .the base 1.

is adapted to be bent upon the scored line thereby fixedly retaining thecap -5 the manner in which the guard fingers are conducted to the frame,the cork being removed; Fig. 6 is a plane View of the blank from whichthe frame is formed. 2

Referring tothe accompanying drawing by numerals it will be seen thatthe. frame is constructed from a. blank sheet of metal as. clearly shownin Fig. 6. .This, frame comprises a base 1 having an elongated slot 2formed in its central portion. Arms 3 and 4 extend from each side of thebase 1 in alinement with each other in such a manner as to allow the arm3 to be provided with the cap 5 formed integrally thereon. These armsare adapted to be bent solas to extend upwardly whereby' the cap 5 mayalso be bent uponthearm B andthus eX- f I tend in upward spaced relationrelative, to

The upper end of the arm 4 6 so as to provide, an overhanging lip 7,which fits upon the'upper ortion'sof the cap 5. This lip'7 is adapte' tobe soldered upon the cap 5 as shown at 8 in Figrs in spaced relationrelative to the base 1. Thiselongated slot9 which is formed to bepositioned in alinement with the slot 2 of the base 1 when the frame isassen ibled, as is cap 55 of the arm is also provided with an 3 and 4 inretaining the base and cap in 7 V spaced relation so as to form a veryrigid. and substantial structure. This filler-block ,may, ofcourse, bemade of anyother suit able niateriahand is provided with .a Verticalopening. 11 extending therethrough so and 9-as shownin-Fig. 2. It will,ofcourse,

:' resilient wire have bent body portions curved throughout their entirelength as shown at 12. The inner ends 13 of these guard fingers are bentso as toeXtend Iin upward spaced relations, passing through theapertures 14 formed in thebase 1 as.

well. as the apertures 15 formed inthe cap 5.

These apertures lt and 15. are formed so as to be in alinement with eachother, thereby allowing the inner endsof theguard fingers againstaccidental movement.

to pass through one of the apertures 14 and, one of the apertures 15.

It will, of course, be noted that these guard fingers are adapted topass through the filler-block 10 as shown in Fig. 3, whereby thefiller-block will be positively retained in engagement with the frame.The upper ends of the guard fingers are bent so as to clamp upon the cap5 as shown at 16, and in this manner prevent their being withdrawn fromtheir correct position. It will, of course, be noted that the movementof the guard fingers upwardly is prevented since the fingers radiateimmediately upon passing through the apertures 14 of the base 1 and thisannular construction will limit or prevent the movement of the guardfingers upwardly.

If it is so desired a quantity of solder 17 may be applied to the bentends 16 of the guard fingers for positively retaining the guard fingersagainst any movement after the device has been assembled. Since thefiller-block 10 is provided with fiat side por- "tions 18 which engagethe inner surfaces of formsomewhat to the contour of the shape 'of the Vinner portion of the opening 11 formed in thefiller-block 10 as shown inFig. 2. Therefore, since the'looped portion 22 tapers towardits lower.portion, it will be positively retained in engagement with thefiller-block10 inasmuch as it will be impossible to withdraw theenlarged upper end 22, of the looped portion. through the lower reducedend of the opening 11. The line 23 is attached to this looped portionand passed upwardly so as to allow the device to be pulled through thewater. A hood 24: having open upper and lower ends is'positioned uponthe guard so as to fit upon the outer side portions of the filler block10 as well as the frame, and in this manner the entire structure will beeificiently reinforced as well as protected from being injured by cominginto contact with foreign objects. The shank 19 is adapted to carry thehooks 25 on its upper ends adjacent the spoon or minnow 20, The guardfingers 12 extend from the filler-block so as to pass for a considerabledistance beyond the hooks 25, thereby forming a continuous guard foroverhanging the spoon or minnow as well as the hooks. Therefore, whenthe device is in operation it will be seen that as the same is drawnthrough the water, the

clogged or otherwise injured by coming into contact with foreignobjects. It will be noted, however, that'owing to the resilientconstruction of the guard fingers 12, when constructed so as topositively retain the guard members and shank for the trolling elementsin their correct positions so as to provide an operative structure whichis capable of preventing foreign'objects from engaging the operatingelements, but which Will always allow the'fish to come into engagementtherewith.

W hat is. claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a frame, afiller-block carried by said frame, guard fingers carried by said frameand passing through said gagement with said frame, said filler-blockprovided wlth a vertical openmg extending therethrough, said openingtapering toward its lower portions, a shank provided with a loopedportion fitting within said vertical opening in said filler-block, saidlooped portion radiating toward its upper end so as to' conformsubstantially to the contour of saidvertical opening, whereby when anout ward strain is brought to bear upon said filler-block for anchoringthe same in ene shank it will be prevented from accidentallydis-engaging the said filler-block, said shank being adapted to carry aspoon or minnow and hooks, said guard fingers overhanging said shankandthe operating elements car-, ried thereby continuous and being curvedthroughout their entire length so as to prevent foreign objects cominginto engagement therewith beyond the operating elements thereof, saidfingers being adapted to easily yield so as to allow a fish access to"the hooks carried by said shank.

2. In a device of. the class described the combination of a frame formedfrom a one of said arms, the opposite arm'being provided with anextending lip for fixedly securing to said cap whereby the cap willextend in an upwardly spaced relation to said base, said cap and basebeing provided with registering longitudinal slots, a fillerblockfitting within said base and cap for reinforcing the frame, a. shankpassing through slots and through said filler block, means for retainingsaid shank in engagement with said filler-block, said filler-block beingprovided with flat side portions engaging the inner portions of saidarms, whereby the block will be retained against rotation, and guardfingers carried by said frame so as to extend for a considerabledistance therebeyond, said shank being adapted to carry a spoon andhooks whereby the said guard fingers may overhang the same so as toprevent foreign objects from coming into engagement therewith and renderthe device inoperative when in use.

passing through said hood whereby the device may be drawn through thewater when desired, said guard fingers being adapted to overhang saidspoon and hooks of said shank, to prevent foreign objects from cominginto engagement therewith when the de-i vice is in operatlon.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a block havingan opening, a shank provided with a loop fitting within said opening,said loop conforming in shape to the contour of said opening, wherebysaid shank will be held against accidental dis-j placement, guardfingers carried by said block, said shank being-adapted to carry a spoonand hooks, whereby said fingers will overhang the same therebypreventing foreign objects from coming into engagement with the spoonand hooks.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of -a frame, saidframe comprising a base and cap, means for connecting said base and cap,means for renforcing said frame, a shank carried by said frame, saidshank being adapted to carry a spoon or minnow and hooks, and guardfingers carried by said frame, said fingers extending so as to overhangsaid shank for guarding the spoon or minnow and hooks,

said fingers terminating in bent innerends,

said bent ends fitting upon said cap, said fingers being bowed outwardlyat a point adjacent said base, whereby longitudinal movement of saidfingers upon said frame is positively eliminated.

In testimony whereof signature.

' RUDOLPH c. KRUSOHKE.

I hereunto aflix my Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

